Detergents can contain several chemical compounds that have negative environmental effects. Phosphate-containing laundry or dish detergents can react adversely when they finally reach the water table. The nitrogen in these detergents reacts with phosphorus in the water, creating nutrients that stimulate the growth of algae in freshwater. According to Lenntech , a company from the Netherlands, this type of algae uses up the oxygen in the water in a process called eutrophication. Over time, this slowly depletes the oxygen in a body of water, ruining the ecosystem.
Other detergents contain surfactants, or surface-active agents, which are chemicals that reduce the surface tension of oil and water.
The problem is, they also happen to be highly toxic to aquatic life. According to the U. Environmental Protection Agency EPA , surfactants break down the mucus layer that coats fish, protecting them from parasites and bacteria. They also reduce the surface tension of water, making it easier for waterways to absorb pollutants and pesticides.
Instead, surfactants only breakdown further into more toxic byproducts. Besides the above-mentioned effects on aquatic life and ecosystems, laundry detergents come with a laundry list of other environmental problems. Most fish will die when detergent concentrations approach 15 parts per million. Detergent concentrations as low as 5 ppm will kill fish eggs. Surfactant detergents are implicated in decreasing the breeding ability of aquatic organisms.
Detergents also add another problem for aquatic life by lowering the surface tension of the water. Organic chemicals such as pesticides and phenols are then much more easily absorbed by the fish. A detergent concentration of only 2 ppm can cause fish to absorb double the amount of chemicals they would normally absorb, although that concentration itself is not high enough to affect fish directly.
Phosphates in detergents can lead to freshwater algal blooms that releases toxins and deplete oxygen in waterways. When the algae decompose, they use up the oxygen available for aquatic life. The main contributors to the toxicity of detergents were the sodium silicate solution and the surfactants-with the remainder of the components contributing very little to detergent toxicity.
The potential for acute aquatic toxic effects due to the release of secondary or tertiary sewage effluents containing the breakdown products of laundry detergents may frequently be low. However, untreated or primary treated effluents containing detergents may pose a problem. Toggle navigation. Detergents occuring in freshwater What happens when detergents get into freshwater ecosystems? You can also select a detergent without added dyes and fragrances to reduce chemical exposure for your family and the environment.
Even knowing which chemical compounds to avoid can be difficult because they are seldom listed on labels. While some manufacturers list every laundry detergent ingredient on the label, most do not because it is not required by law in the United States. However, with a little effort, you can visit each manufacturer's website to view a list of complete ingredients.
When you see that designation, you know that you're buying an environmentally friendly product. When purchasing detergents that are formulated in other countries, do a bit of research related to international standards. One of the products that was included in the program was laundry detergent.
The agency asked manufacturers to provide a complete list of ingredients. If the company was using the safest chemical for each type of ingredient, the product earned a special designation. If the product was not environmentally friendly, the EPA encouraged the company to reformulate the product. The Design for the Environment Seal was awarded to laundry detergents that met EPA requirements as both good for business and the environment. As more than 2, diverse products qualified for the program, the EPA branding and labels were changed to the Safer Choice program.
Products with the Safer Choice label identify products with safer chemical ingredients for the environment that consumers can use without sacrificing quality or performance. The Safer Choice program offers a list of safe cleaning products on its website ranging from all-purpose cleaners to hand soaps to laundry detergents , fabric softeners, and boosters.
You'll see that only a few laundry detergent brands are listed. This does not mean that all others are "bad. As more manufacturers reformulate a safer cleaning product and performance testing, additional detergents will receive the designation. S Environmental Protection Agency.
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